Microsoft's developer conference highlights machine learning

A view of Cortana, Microsoft’s virtual assistant. – Image via Windows/YouTube Microsoft Build, the company’s annual conference with software developers, gets underway Wednesday. Microsoft will be talking about its plans for the year, and encouraging developers to think up new applications for its products. One of the most important things Microsoft is highlighting is artificial intelligence and machine learning. If you use Microsoft products, chances are you already experience machine learning, said spokesman Frank Shaw, who gave the example of Microsoft virtual assistant Cortana. “Cortana will say, currently, ‘Hey, you sent email and promised a reply by tomorrow. It’s tomorrow,'” Shaw said. One of the key elements of the Microsoft Build developer conference is thinking about how to incorporate that kind of intelligence throughout the Microsoft ecosystem. “Microsoft is very good, and…